Mobile wireless communications device with polarization diversity wireless local area network (LAN) antenna and related methods

Abstract

A mobile wireless LAN communications device may include a portable, handheld housing, and a wireless LAN transceiver carried by the housing. A polarization diversity wireless LAN antenna may be included for cooperating with the wireless LAN transceiver to communicate over a wireless LAN. The polarization diversity wireless LAN antenna may include a first antenna element coupled to the wireless LAN transceiver having a first shape and a first polarization, and a second antenna element coupled to the wireless LAN transceiver having a second shape different from the first shape. The second antenna element may also have a second polarization different from the first polarization.

That which is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electronic device comprising:
 a wireless LAN transceiver; and 
 a wireless LAN antenna coupled to the wireless LAN transceiver and comprising
 a first antenna element and a second antenna element each comprising a respective feed branch and a respective loop branch having a first end coupled to the feed branch, a second end adjacent the feed branch and separated therefrom by a respective gap, and a respective loop-back section extending between the first and second ends, 
 the loop-back section of the first antenna element comprising a plurality of linear portions coupled together, 
 the loop-back section of the second antenna element comprising an arcuate portion and at least one linear portion coupled together. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The electronic device of  claim 1  wherein at least respective loop-back sections of the first and second antenna elements have different shapes providing different polarizations for the first and second antenna elements. 
     
     
       3. The electronic device of  claim 2  wherein the different polarizations are orthogonal to one another. 
     
     
       4. The electronic device of  claim 1  wherein the first and second antenna elements have different gain patterns, and wherein the different gain patterns have a substantially equal main lobe gain. 
     
     
       5. The electronic device of  claim 1  wherein the feed branch of the first antenna element comprises a plurality of feed points. 
     
     
       6. The electronic device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a housing carrying the wireless LAN transceiver and wireless LAN antenna; 
 a cellular transceiver carried by the housing; and 
 a cellular antenna coupled to the cellular transceiver. 
 
     
     
       7. The electronic device of  claim 1  further comprising a circuit board having first and second opposing major surfaces; and wherein the first and second antenna elements comprise planar conductive elements on the first major surface of the circuit board. 
     
     
       8. The electronic device of  claim 1  further comprising a respective matching network coupled between the wireless LAN transceiver and each of the first and second antenna elements. 
     
     
       9. An electronic device comprising:
 a circuit board; 
 a wireless LAN transceiver carried by the circuit board; and 
 a wireless LAN antenna coupled to the wireless LAN transceiver and comprising
 electrically conductive traces on the circuit board defining a first antenna element and a second antenna element each comprising a respective feed branch and a respective loop branch having a first end coupled to the feed branch, a second end adjacent the feed branch and separated therefrom by a respective gap, and a respective loop-back section extending between the first and second ends, 
 the loop-back section of the first antenna element comprising a plurality of linear portions coupled together, 
 the loop-back section of the second antenna element comprising an arcuate portion and at least one linear portion coupled together. 
 
 
     
     
       10. The electronic device of  claim 9  wherein at least respective loop-back sections of the first and second antenna elements have different shapes providing different polarizations for the first and second antenna elements. 
     
     
       11. The electronic device of  claim 10  wherein the different polarizations are orthogonal to one another. 
     
     
       12. The electronic device of  claim 9  wherein the first and second antenna elements have different gain patterns, and wherein the different gain patterns have a substantially equal main lobe gain. 
     
     
       13. The electronic device of  claim 9  wherein the feed branch of the first antenna element comprises a plurality of feed points. 
     
     
       14. The electronic device of  claim 9  further comprising:
 a housing carrying the wireless LAN transceiver and wireless LAN antenna; 
 a cellular transceiver carried by the housing; and 
 a cellular antenna coupled to the cellular transceiver. 
 
     
     
       15. The electronic device of  claim 9  further comprising a respective matching network coupled between the wireless LAN transceiver and each of the first and second antenna elements. 
     
     
       16. A wireless LAN antenna for a wireless LAN transceiver comprising:
 a first antenna element and a second antenna element each comprising a respective feed branch and a respective loop branch having a first end coupled to the feed branch, a second end adjacent the feed branch and separated therefrom by a respective gap, and a respective loop-back section extending between the first and second ends; 
 the loop-back section of the first antenna element comprising a plurality of linear portions coupled together; 
 the loop-back section of the second antenna element comprising an arcuate portion and at least one linear portion coupled together. 
 
     
     
       17. The wireless LAN antenna of  claim 16  wherein at least respective loop-back sections of the first and second antenna elements have different shapes providing different polarizations for the first and second antenna elements. 
     
     
       18. The wireless LAN antenna of  claim 17  wherein the different polarizations are orthogonal to one another. 
     
     
       19. The wireless LAN antenna of  claim 16  wherein the first and second antenna elements have different gain patterns, and wherein the different gain patterns have a substantially equal main lobe gain. 
     
     
       20. The wireless LAN antenna of  claim 16  wherein the feed branch of the first antenna element comprises a plurality of feed points. 
     
     
       21. A method making a wireless LAN antenna for a wireless LAN transceiver comprising:
 forming a first antenna element and a second antenna element each comprising a respective feed branch and a respective loop branch having a first end coupled to the feed branch, a second end adjacent the feed branch and separated therefrom by a respective gap, and a respective loop-back section extending between the first and second ends; 
 the loop-back section of the first antenna element comprising a plurality of linear portions coupled together; 
 the loop-back section of the second antenna element comprising an arcuate portion and at least one linear portion coupled together. 
 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 21  wherein at least respective loop-back sections of the first and second antenna elements have different shapes providing different polarizations for the first and second antenna elements. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 22  wherein the different polarizations are orthogonal to one another. 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 21  wherein the first and second antenna elements have different gain patterns, and wherein the different gain patterns have a substantially equal main lobe gain.